HOLD FAST

05/15/2026

Save the date, b’ys, for our annual HOLD FAST Garage Sale Fundraiser! Turn your trash into someone else’s treasure, all in support of Hold Fast 2026 💫

We’re accepting:

👚 gently used clothing
👑 jewelry
🎱 knick-knacks
🎮 working electronics
🧶 fabric
🎨 art supplies

…an’ more!! Got something a bit strange or extra large? Give us a shout ahead of time so we can make sure we’ve got room for it!

Donations are welcome starting now through June 19, during open hours (Wed–Sat, 12–5pm), or message us to set up another time that works.

Garage Sale Dates:
🛍️ June 25 - Members-only pre-sale, 5–7pm
🛍️ June 26 & 27 - Open to the public, 12–5pm

Stay tuned, we’ll be sharing more soon about the sale and a few fun pop-ups you won’t want to miss 👀

05/09/2026

Thinking about applying to HOLD FAST 2026? ✨⏳

We have a recorded Zoom info session from last year, and the video is now available online. Watch it for a quick overview of the festival, step-by-step guidance on the Featured Artist application, and a Q&A session.

Please note 📝: There have been slight updates to the call for submissions since last year’s info session. CARFAC fees for participation in the festival have also been updated to reflect the current year’s rates, and all current fees are outlined in the call for submissions.

Click the Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nUVXypVRhLQ

04/22/2026

Check out this job call for a HOLD FAST Festival Coordinator, Festival Assistant, and a Gallery Assistant at Eastern Edge!!

✨ WE’RE HIRING!! ✨

Are you a creative person looking to learn more about artist-run centres, art installation, and/or art festivals? Check out this call!! 📢📢

We are currently hiring for THREE positions!

(1) Festival Coordinator: May 26 - September 12, 2026, $23/hr.

(2) Festival Assistant: June 17 - August 15, 2026, $19/hr.

(3) Gallery Assistant: June 17 - August 15, 2026, $19/hr.

Applicants are welcome to apply for one or multiple positions. All positions are 30 hours a week, Tuesday-Saturday, 10am-5:30pm. Check out our website in our bio for the full job descriptions: https://easternedge.ca/were-hiring-summer-staff-2026/

Posting date: April 21st, 2026
Closing date: May 12th, 2026

Please note: The assistant positions are supported through wage subsidy programs that require applicants to be between the ages of 15 and 30, and a Canadian Resident. Please read the full job call for details. All positions are funding-dependent.

📸: Shireen Merchant from Miya Turnbull’s exhibition install

04/22/2026

IT’S HERE!!! HOLD FAST Festival’s 2026 Call for Featured Artists is now live 🌊

Apply by: May 19th, 2025, 11:59pm NDT

Each Featured Artist:
🌊 presents an Art Crawl project (e.g. performance or interactive installation)
🌊 leads a workshop
🌊 & gives an artist talk

This year’s festival will focus on celebrating the work of Indigenous artists based anywhere in Canada, and local artists based in NL’s Avalon Peninsula.

HOLD FAST will take place from August 12-15 in St. John’s, NL/Ktaqmkuk. Artists are paid in accordance with CARFAC fee schedule.

Learn more & apply on our website here: https://easternedge.ca/hold-fast-2026-call-for-featured-artists/

Stay tuned for further announcements, and our annual Garage Sale Fundraiser, coming soon!! 😎

easternedge easternedgegallery

📸: Image by Shireen Merchant of last year’s performance “When the Body Remembers” by Joliz Dela Peña.

10/16/2025

📸 Revealing the genius behind the camera — big thank you to our incredible festival photographer Shireen Merchant!!!

Thank you for documenting all of our precious moments, our laughs and tears!! We are so grateful to have you on our team!

Check out a few of her photos here, and scroll through our page for more gorgeous festival documentation!

10/07/2025

THANK YOU to the Core Funders that made HOLD FAST 2025 possible! 🙌

Your support means the world to us and there would not be a festival without you. We are so grateful for your continued support ❤️

10/03/2025

We are saying goodbye to our HOLD FAST Festival Coordinator Hadiza Bello this week. It’s been so special to have you working with us for the past four months to create such a memorable festival!

Thank you for running around town setting up projectors, designing clever social media campaigns, helping keep the gallery in tip top shape, and creating a supportive environment for our artists to thrive! We will miss your anime recommendations, your humour, and your positive attitude!

P.S. Can you believe Hadiza made her Fancy Artist Talk dress herself, out of a curtain that she bought at the HOLD FAST garage sale??!!!?? Talk about TALENT!

(Image credits to Shireen Merchant, Alick Tsui, and the EE staff and festival volunteers!)

09/27/2025

To our incredible volunteers - THANK YOU!🩷🩷🩷

Your time, love, and energy turned this festival into a reality. We are beyond grateful for your hard work and the kindness you brought to the festival. You made this experience unforgettable and we couldn’t have done it without you!!

Photo credit:

09/25/2025

We can’t express how much we appreciate our amazing festival sponsors and partners!!🥹🥹

Whether it’s hosting workshops, our launch party, hosting pop-up’s or featured artist projects we are extremely grateful for all your support!

1. HOLD FAST Launch Party
2. How to talk to your Neighbour workshop
3. Move your body, babe! workshop
4. Intro to performance Art workshop
5. Mirror Embroidery workshop
6. How does it sound/ How does it feel?
7. Films on the Go at NIFCO
8. SNSB, Breaking Through- A story of Her Rise Patio
9. Dream Land
10. On foot

Photo credit:
1, 3, 4, 5, 7: Hadiza Bello
2: Ashley Hemming
6, 8, 9, 10:

09/24/2025

Thank you to the attendees who joined us at HOLD FAST 2025!! Your energy, passion and presence made this festival unforgettable.
We are so grateful to have shared this incredible experience with such an amazing community. Here’s to the moments we experienced and future ones to come!🥂

Photo credit: